Means for loosening tobacco and separating foreign bodies and dust



NOV. 17, 1 931. I p, E HQHN ET AL 1,832,119 MEANS FOR LOOSENING TOBACOAND SEPARATING FOREIGN BODIES AND'DUST Filed Jan. 50. 1929 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov; 17, 1931. HOHN AL v 1,832,119

MEANS FOR LOOSENING TOBACCO AND SEPARATING FOREIGN BODIES AND DUST FiledJan.,3Q, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 :LZZ T IJ I Nov. 17, 1931.

NI. P. E. HOHN ET AL MEANS FOR LOOSENING TOBACCO AND SEPARA'IING FOREIGNBODIES AND DUST 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. '30. 1929 'Nov. 17, 193.1.

M. P. E. HOHN ET AL MEANS FOR LOOSENING TOBACCO AND SEPARATING FOREIGNBODIES AND DU ST Filed Jan. 30. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 WM a W Z3; 74

4; WWW

Patented Nov. 1931 UNITED STAT ES PATENT OFFICE MAX PAUL ERNST HOHN ANDGUSTAV FRITZ HALANK, OF DRESDEN, GERMANY,

MULLER & CQ., OF DRESDEN, GERMANY MEAN S FOR EOOSENING TOBACCO ANDSEPARATIN G FOREIGN BODIES AND DUST Application filed January 30, 1929,Serial No. 336,101, and in Austria and Hungary November 16, 1928.

Tobacco in the form in which it is used, in particular for themanufacture of cigarettes, generally contains impurities such as sand,small stones and often particles of iron such as nails and the like fromwhich it must first be freed. Moreover in the handling of the tobaccobefore it passes into the cigarette machines, a considerable quantity ofdustis formed which alsdinust be removed. It is absolutely essentialhowever that the tobacco should be thoroughly loosened before it can beworked. The separate leaves of raw tobacco are disposed in superposedlayers and packed in large bales under high pressure. On being treated,separate bunches of the compressed leaves are loosened and then thebunches must be sub-divided into separate leaves. In the cutting of thetobacco in the tobacco cutting machine the tobacco leaves are againhighly compressed so that the cut tobacco itself consists of stillclosely adhering fibres due-t0 the compress1on.

The loosening of the bunches of raw tobacco leaves is necessary in orderto obtain separate leaves which can be mixed with leaves of other kindsof tobacco before the mixture is transferred to the tobacco cuttingmachine. With already cut tobacco the loosening of the lumps and ballsin .the cut tobacco coming from the tobacco cutting machine isabsolutely necessary as otherwise the tobacco cannot be treated incigarette inachines where a tobacco rope or rod of uniform thickness andof uniform properties is essential.

The invention refers to means or apparatus equally-suited for treatingraw tobacco and cut tobacco in which in addition to the removal offoreign bodies the separation of dust is effected.

The invention consists in the provision of a suction or air pressureconduit into which the tobacco asses and in which are provided baffle orpro ecting surfaces on which the tobacco is loosened, extensions fromthe conduit being provided the bottom of which lies beyond the directair stream, while the conduit terminates in a sack-like or box-likehousing in which is disposed a moving sieve moving across the path ofthe air, a twochambered seal being connected to the outlet opening forthe discharge of the cleaned and loosened tobacco.

It is possible by means of the apparatus to loosen the tobaccothoroughly without affecting the previously naturally moist tobaccoleaves or fibres and to remove all the impurities as also dustpractically completely.

The installation is shown applied to the treatment of cut tobacco in theaccompanyin front elevation respectively the separator for removingforeign bodies located in the feed line.

Figs. 7 and 8 show in vertical section and in plan respectively theseparator located in the conduit. in front of the sacklike dustseparating chamber. Fig. 9 illustrates the I travelling sieve in thesack-like dust separator arranged as a drum. Fig. 9a shows inperspective the drum sieve shown in Fig. 9.

In Figs '1 and 2, A denotes a tobacco cutting machine, B the tobaccodelivery, 0 the separator for foreign bodies, D the feed line or conduitformed with projecting surfaces, E the separator located in front of thedust separator, F the dust separator and G the collector or receiver forthe cleaned and loosened tobacco.

To the outlet of the tobacco cutting machine denoted by A is connectedthe guide channel 1 of the tobacco delivery arrangement shown in Figs. 3and 4. The cut tobacco flows downwards along the bottom 2 of thischannel which extends into the open hopper 3. The hopper, as shown inFig. 2, is of a breadth suited to the breadth of the discharge outlet,the width of the hopper being somewhat greater than that of tension 8arranged as a branch closed by,

the discharge outlet. To the hopper is connected the branch 4 whichopens into the compressed air supply pipe 5. The width of this branch 4is suited to the width of the discharge outlet of the tobacco cuttingmachine. This branch bends away towards the left as shown in Fig. 4 sothat the tobacco fibres fed through the branch 4 into the compressed airsupply pipe are deflected and pass into the air supply pipe in thedirection of flow. In other words this arrangement permit-s an easy flowof the. cut to bacco into the compressed air pipe. The air stream flowsthus in the direction of the arrow i. e. from right to left.

At the pointwhere the branch 4'leaves the hopper 3 is provided athrottle valve 6 which serves in known manner to regulate the suctionaction on the tobacco.

On the wall 7 of the hopper 3 opposite the delivery channel 1 isprovided an exmeans of a flap or valve 9. Within the hopper 3 isprovided a flap or valve 10 which is hingedly mounted at 11 and is soadjustable that at one time (see the full line in Fig. 3), it shuts offthe branch 4 leading to the air supply pipe 5 or at another time (seethe dotted position in Fig. 3) shuts off the extension 8. The flap orvalve 10 is operated by means of a handle 12 which projects outwardlythrough a slot 13 in the wall of the hopper.

As is clear with the flap 10 in the position shown in full lines in Fig.3, a sliding surface is provided for the cut tobacco com-- ing from achannel for the tobacco to pass to the'extension 8. The flap is arrangedin this position preferably at the beginning of the operation of thetobacco cutting machine. After the first cutting operation which isgenerally unsatisfactory has been completed the flap 10 is turned intothe position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 whereupon the extension 8'is cut off, and the branch 4 is freed so that the out tobacco may passinto the compressed air supply conduit 5'. The cut tobacco of littlevalue which passes into the extension 8 can be removed and put back intothe tobacco cutting machine.

This arrangement also permits of the cut tobacco being passed into areceiver and not into the compressed air supply conduit. Such a methodis at present necessary. In this :cFase the flap 10 is positioned asshown in It then forms a slidingsurface for the cut tobacco and at thesame time shuts off the compressed air supply conduit. In this casehowever the flap 9 which turns about the hinge 14 at the end of theextension 8 is also opened so that the tobacco can now flow through theextension 8 into a receiver beneath it. c In the air conduit 5 isinterposed a chamber 15 having a diameter considerably in excess of thatof the air conduit. Although this chamber is disposed substantially inthe flow of the air stream the arrangement is such that the hopper-likebottom 16 is outside the main flow. In consequence the specificallyheavier foreign bodies such as small metal particles or the like sooften found in cut tobacco are deposited onthe bottom 16 after such achange in the speed of flow of the air has occurred that the lighttobacco but not the heavy foreign bodies are entrained by the airstream.

The chamber 17 in which the foreign bodies collect is connected to thehopper bottom 16.

gradually tapering nozzle 22 connected to the chamber passes into theupper part of the pneumatic conduit 5. The inclined surfaces may befixed or as shown in the drawings may be hingedly mounted so as toregulate the extent of reduction of the speed of flow into the chamber.

The conduit 5 itself which is arranged in a housing 23 as an upwardlyextending conduit is formed as a pipe of rectangular cross sectionhaving surfaces acting as baffle surfaces to the cut tobacco drawnthrough the pipe in the direction of the arrow. Naturally these bafflesurfaces can be formed in any other manner than by the s nuous form ofthe pipe for example, separate baflles may be disposed in a pipe havingrectilinear walls.

To the upper part of the conduit 5 extending from the housing 23 isconnected the branch 24 (Figs. 7 and 8) serving as a further separatorof foreign bodies through which the air flows in the d rection of thearrow.

Opposite the outlet of the rising pipe 25 is a movable wallv 26 by theadjustment of which the chamber 27 which is substantially triangular inprofile can be reduced or increased and the extent of reduction in thespeed of the flow can thus be regulated. The chamber 27 is ofconsiderably greater cross section than condu t 25 so that aconsiderable fall in the speed of flow takes place at this point and anyheavy foreign bodies still entrained by the tobacco can fall and passthrough the discharge opening at the bottom. Near this discharge openingis pro vided another movable wall 29 the object of which is the same asthe wall 26 namely the reduction or increase in the dimensions of thechamber 27.

To the outlet 30 of the portion 24 of the conduit is connected a dustseparator F which as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 consists essentially of asack-like or box-like housing 31. The

interior of the housing is naturally under the pressure existing in theconduit and it is therefore closed at its lower end by an air sealthrough which the collected tobacco can be intermittently withdrawn.Within the housing 31 and over the'pulleys 32 extends a travelling sieve33 in the form of an endless band. Opposite the outlet 30 of the conduitis disposed a hopper shaped extension 34. The flow of air between 34 and35 is substantially limited by the surfaces enclosed by 34 and 35 whichcan be made larger or smaller according to the conditions. In thisregion the air passesthrough the sieve carrying the impurities containedin the tobacco (dust, tobacco fibres, jute fibres from the packing etc.)while the tobacco settles in the chamber 36 the lower surface of whichis closed by the flap 37 To the chamber 36 is connected the chamber 38the lower surface of which is closed by a flap 39.

The flaps of the air seal are operated as follows After a certainquantity of tobacco has collected over the flab 37 in the chamber 38,flap 39 is closed and the tobacco in the chamber 36 dropped into thechamber 38 by opening the flap 37. The flap 37 is now' again closed andthe flap 38 opened to allow the tobacco to flow into a container locatedbeneath it.

In the separator shown in Fig. 9 the travelling band sieve is replacedby a drum sieve 41. We claim:

1. Means for loosening tobacco and sepa;

rating foreign bodies and dust comprising a pneumatic conduit forconveyance of the tobacco in a stream from an inlet to an outlet, bafiiesurfaces located Within said conduit adapted to be impacted by thetobacco being conveyed through said conduit, separating means connectedwith the conduit but located out of the main stream, a terminal housingdisposed at the outlet of the conduit, a travel ling sieve movabletransversely of the outlet from the conduit and 'air sealing means forpermittingthe discharge of the cleaned and loosened tobacco from theconduit.

2. Means for loosening tobacco and separating foreign bodies and dustcomprising a pneumatic conduit for conveyance of the tobacco in a streamfrom an inlet to an outlet, a wide delivery hopper located at the inletof said conduit, said hopper merging into the conduit in the directionof flow of the air stream, baflfle surfaces located within said conduitadapted to be impacted by the tobacco being conveyed through saidconduit, separating means connected with the conduit but located out ofthe main stream, a terminal housing disposed at the outlet of theconduit,

a travelling sieve movable transversely of the outlet from the conduitand air sealing means for permitting the discharge of the cleaned andloosened tobacco from the conduit.

3 Means for loosening tobacco and sepa' ratlng foreign bodies and dustcomprising a pneumatic conduit for conveyance of the.

the conduit, a travelling sieve movable transversely of the outlet fromthe conduit and air sealing means for permitting the discharge of thecleaned and loosened tobacco from the conduit.

4. Means for loosening tobacco and separating foreign bodies and dustcomprising a pneumatic conduit for conveyance of the tobacco in a streamfrom an inlet to an outlet. baffle surfaces located within said conduitadapted to be impacted by the tobacco being conveyed through saidconduit, separatingmeans connected with the conduit but located out ofthe main stream, said separating means including a chamber, a hoppershaped bottom to said chamber, and a discharge outlet provided in saidchamber. a terminal housing disposed at the outlet of the conduit, atravelling sieve movable transversely of the outlet from the conduit andair sealing means for permitting the discharge of the cleaned andloosened tobacco from the conduit. I

5. Means for loosening tobacco and separating foreign bodies nd dustcomprising apneumatic conduit for conveyance of the tobacco in astreamfrom an inlet to an outlet, bafile surfaces located within said conduitadapted to be impacted by the tobacco being conveyed through saidconduit, said bafile surfaces constituted by the sinous form of theconduit, separating means connected with the conduit but located out ofthe main stream, a terminal housing disposed at the outlet of theconduit, a travelling sieve movable transversely of the outlet from theconduit and air sealing means for permitting the discharge of thecleaned and loosened tobacco from the conduit.

6. Means for loosening tobacco and separating foreign bodies and dustcomprising a pneumatic conduit for conveyance of the tobacco in a streamfrom an inlet to an outlet,

'bafiie surfaces located within said conduit means connected with theconduit but located out of the main stream, a terminal housing disposedat the outlet of the conduit, a travelling sieve movable transversely ofthe outlet from the conduit, said travelling sieve in the form of anendless band, and air sealing means for permitting the discharge of thecleaned and loosened tobacco from the conduit.

7 Means for loosening tobacco and separating foreign bodies and dustcomprising a pneumatic conduit for conveyance of the tobacco in a streamfrom an inlet to an outlet, battle surfaces located within said conduitadapted to be impacted by the tobacco being conveyed through saidconduit. separating means connected with the conduit but located out ofthe main stream, a terminal housing disposed at the outlet of theconduit, a travelling sieve movable transversely of the outlet from theconduit,said travelling sieve formed as a drum and air sealing means forpermit-' ting the discharge of the cleaned and loosened tobacco from theconduit.

8. Means for loosening tobacco and separating foreign bodie and dustcomprising a pneumatic conduit for conveyance of the toacco in a streamfrom an inlet to an outlet, battle surfaces located within said conduitadapted to be impacted by the tobacco being conveyed through saidconduit, separating means connected with the conduit but located out ofthe main stream, a' terminal housing disposed at the outlet of theconduit, a travelling sieve movable transversely of the outlet from thecondult so that it presents to such outlet an approximatel verticalsurface allowing the tobacco striklng the surface to fall,

a suction outlet located behind such surface, and air sealing means forpermitting the discharge of,the vcleaned and loosened tobacco from theconduit.

9. Means for loosening tobacco and sepa rating foreign bodies and dustcomprising a pneumatlc conduit for conveyance of the tobacco in a streamfrom an inlet to an. outlet, I

baffle surfaces located within said conduit adapted to beimpacted by thetobacco being conveyed through said conduit, separating means connectedwith the conduit but located a out of the main stream, a terminalhousing disposed at the outlet of the conduit, a travellingsieve movabletransversely of the outlet from the conduit and air sealing means forpermitting the discharge of the cleaned and loosened tobacco fromthe'conduit, said air sealings means comprising inclined walls disposedin V-shape to one another and forming superposed chambers and a pair ofsealing flaps sealing such chambers.

tures.

MAX PAUL ERNST HOHN. GUSTAV FRITZ HALANK.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signa-

